Sustainability overview

The spawning-stock biomass (SSB) has increased significantly since 2006 and is well above historical estimates. Fishing mortality has decreased sharply in recent years and has been below F MSY since 2012. Discards of young hake can be substantial in some areas and in some fleets and measures are required to address this. Hake is a late maturing fish. Avoid eating immature fish below about 50cm, and during their breeding season, February to July, although note spawning will occur at different times in localised areas within this period throughout the stock range.

The Cornish hake gill net fishery was certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) as a sustainable fishery in June 2015. MSC certified Scottish whitefish fisheries include hake, plaice, saithe, whiting and haddock. Hake from these fisheries is the best sustainable choice currently available.

Biology

Hake belongs to a group of fish known collectively as Merluccidae. There is only one species, European hake, found in European seas. European hake is widely distributed over the Northeast Atlantic shelf. Hake is a top predator and cannibalistic. It is a late maturing fish, spawning from February to July in northern waters. There are two major nursery areas: the Bay of Biscay and off southern Ireland. As they approach maturity, hake move into deeper waters offshore. Hake can attain a length of 100-180 cm, with a weight of 11-15 kg. Females mature at 5-6 years at about 50 cm.

Stock information

Stock Area

Bay of Biscay to Northern North Sea (Northern Stock)

Stock information

There was a pronounced stock decline in the 1980s, with spawning-stock biomass (SSB) hitting a historical low in the early 1990s. A recovery plan was introduced for the stock in 2004.The spawning-stock biomass (SSB) has increased substantially since 2006 and is well above historical estimates. Fishing mortality (F) has decreased markedly after 2005 and has been below FMSY since 2012. The two most recent recruitment (R) estimates are above the average of the time-series.ICES assesses that fishing pressure on the stock is below FMSY, Fpa, and Flim and that spawning-stock size is above MSY Btrigger, Bpa, and Blim.ICES advises that when the MSY approach is applied, catches in 2019 should be no more than 142 240 tonnes.

Management

A recovery plan for the stock was agreed by the EU in 2004. The plan has not yet been evaluated by ICES and is currently using target values that are now considered no longer appropriate. The European Commission has proposed a multiannual management plan (MAP) for the Western Waters, which is not yet finalised.Discarding of juvenile hake (undersized and above minimum size) can be substantial in some areas and fleets. Measures to improve selectivity towards larger fish is required to reduce discarding of juvenile hake which can be substantial.In the most recent period, discarding of large individuals increased because of quota restrictions in certain fleets. In 2017, observed discards decreased and a rate of 6% estimated for discards in 2017. Some fleets fishing this stock have been under the EU landing obligation since 2016.

Capture Information

Longlining is a less fuel intensive and more selective method of fishing. There is, however, a possible bycatch of shark and other non-target species, including seabirds. The minimum landing size for hake in EU waters is 27cm (30cm in Skagerrak/Kattegat).The size at which approximately 50% of females mature, however, is 50+cm, indicating that the MLS should probably be reviewed.

Alternatives

Based on method of production, fish type, and consumer rating:
only fish rated 2 and below are included as an alternative in
the list below. Click on a name to show the sustainable options
available.

Wild capture criterion scoring overview

This system has been developed by the Marine Conservation Society to help consumers choose the most environmentally sustainable fish. For
full details, please see the full wild-capture methodology available here.

Capture method and ecological effects

Score

Impact

0

Very low impact

0.25

Low impact

0.5

Some or moderate impact

0.75

High impact

1

Very high impact or illegal

Where environmental concerns from any one criteria are so great, a ‘critical fail’ may be triggered and the fishery awarded a default red
rating. For full details, please see the full wild-capture methodology available here.

References

What’s a sustainability range?

Many of the fish listed are caught in different ways and from
different areas of the sea. Some species are caught in a variety
of ways and this range shows that, within a species, some may be
fished sustainably whilst others unsustainably.

To find out the individual ratings for each fish click on the
ratings button next to the image.

Fish that are being assessed are shown with a question mark icon and "No Rating".

This system has been developed by the Marine Conservation
Society to help consumers choose the most environmentally
sustainable fish.

To be assessed

Seafood sources indicated as, 'To be assessed', are those that have not yet been assessed and assigned a rating or are undergoing a period
of review. These include sources previously rated by MCS for which the rating has lapsed, due to changes in the market or MCS priorities and
resources. Given that these sources are not fully assessed, the profile should not be used to infer the current sustainability of the
fishery or farmed species.

If you are interested in the sustainability of this seafood source, please let us know by emailing
ratings@mcsuk.org

Rating 1

Rating 1 (light green) is associated with the most
sustainably produced seafood.

This system has been developed by the Marine Conservation
Society to help consumers choose the most environmentally
sustainable fish.

Rating 3

Rating 3 (yellow) based on available information; these
species should probably not be considered sustainable at
this time. Areas requiring improvement in the current
production may be significant. Eat only occasionally and
check www.goodfishguide.org for specific details.

This system has been developed by the Marine Conservation
Society to help consumers choose the most environmentally
sustainable fish.

Rating 4

Rating 4 (orange) should not be considered sustainable, and
the fish is likely to have significant environmental issues
associated with its production. While it may be from a
deteriorating fishery, it may be one which has improved from
a 5 rating, and positive steps are being taken. However, MCS
would not usually recommend choosing this fish.

This system has been developed by the Marine Conservation
Society to help consumers choose the most environmentally
sustainable fish.

Red Improver

'Red improver' ratings are assigned to seafood sources which have been assessed and rated 5 (red) due to significant environmental concerns
with one or more aspects of their management, capture or production, yet credible efforts to improve these issues have been agreed through a
Fisheries or Aquaculture Improvement Project – a FIP or an AIP - and work is underway. Such projects are normally publicly listed at
www.fisheryprogress.org. MCS wants to encourage environmental improvements in fisheries and fish farms, and so does not recommend avoiding
these sources, as we normally do for seafood rated 5 (red rated).

'Best choice' fish are rated 1 and 2, Fish to Avoid are rated 5.

This system has been developed by the Marine Conservation Society to help businesses and consumers choose the most environmentally
sustainable fish.

Rating 5

Rating 5 (red) is associated with fish to be avoided on the
basis that all or most of the criteria for sustainablilty
have not been met.